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BRUSSELS – The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a global tech trade association, has presented its Tech Sector Vision on EU Sustainability Strategy. This initiative aims to harness the potential of technology to achieve the European Union's environmental goals in the upcoming mandate.

The Department of State has announced sanctions on two Israeli individuals, citing their actions as contributing to violence and instability in the West Bank. These measures are part of efforts to address activities that undermine peace, security, and stability in the region.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a settlement with J.R. Simplot Company regarding violations of federal environmental and public health laws at its fertilizer manufacturing facility in Lathrop, California. The EPA found that the company breached the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, and the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program. As part of the settlement, J.R. Simplot will pay a civil penalty of $363,700.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the allocation of over $22 million to fair housing organizations nationwide to address housing discrimination. The funds, totaling $22,241,793, will be distributed through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to support various activities such as education, outreach, testing, and enforcement.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Hilltop Youth, an extremist group in the West Bank, under Executive Order 14115. The group is accused of violent actions against Palestinians, including attacks on homes and property, which have destabilized the region.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of $4 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to support phosphorus reduction efforts in the western Lake Erie basin. The funds will be used for farmer outreach and technical assistance, with applications being accepted until November 22, 2024.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued a proclamation recognizing October 2024 as the Department’s 60th anniversary of National Cooperative Month.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced three new funding opportunities aimed at supporting pesticide safety education for agricultural workers, training healthcare providers to better address pesticide-related illnesses, and providing technical assistance to manage these grants. A total of nearly $10 million will be awarded to at least four beneficiaries over five years.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that registration is now open for the 11th SelectUSA Investment Summit, scheduled for May 11-14, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

Instagram has announced the launch of "best practices," an educational hub for creators on its platform. The new feature, located in the professional dashboard, aims to provide essential information to help creators improve their content and grow their audience.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the allocation of $15.9 million in grants to support adaptive sports, recreational activities, and equine therapy for Veterans and service members with disabilities. The VA’s Adaptive Sports Grant Program will distribute these funds to 91 national, regional, and community-based programs across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico for fiscal year 2024. These initiatives aim to benefit over 15,000 Veterans and Armed Forces members.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced three new funding opportunities aimed at supporting pesticide safety education for farmworkers, training health care providers to better address pesticide-related illnesses, and providing technical assistance for managing these grants. The agency plans to award nearly $10 million to at least four grantees over the next five years.

The Department of Defense has announced a $30 million award to TTM Technologies Inc. (TTM) based in Santa Ana, California. This funding, facilitated through the Defense Production Act Purchases (DPAP) office, will allow TTM to acquire and install advanced manufacturing equipment and develop prototype designs for printed circuit boards. The project will begin at TTM's Centers of Excellence across the United States and will eventually integrate into its new facility in Syracuse, New York. This initiative aims to enhance TTM's capabilities and ensure timely delivery of advanced...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the removal of the Lipari Landfill site from the Superfund National Priorities List. The announcement was made at an event in Betty Park, Pitman, N.J., where EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia and U.S. Representative Donald Norcross were joined by state and local leaders to celebrate the site's cleanup and redevelopment.

The Justice Department has unsealed an indictment against Russian national Aleksandr Viktorovich Ryzhenkov, charging him with using the BitPaymer ransomware variant to attack multiple victims in Texas and across the United States. The indictment alleges that since at least June 2017, Ryzhenkov gained unauthorized access to victims' computer networks, deployed BitPaymer ransomware to encrypt files, and demanded ransom for decryption keys and to prevent public exposure of sensitive information.

This past weekend saw a new romantic comedy, "Nobody Wants This," debut at number two on the English TV List with 10.3 million views. The film stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, marking Brody's return to the rom-com genre. Erin Foster directed the movie.

The Department of Defense has announced $43 million in awards to 112 university researchers through the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP). These grants will enable the purchase of major equipment at 64 institutions across 28 states for Fiscal Year 2025, enhancing their capabilities in defense-related research.

Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma addressed the Fourth International Counter Ransomware Initiative Summit at the Foreign Service Institute on October 1, 2024. He emphasized the need for global cooperation to tackle ransomware threats.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing over $88,000 in refunds to consumers who purchased measuring cups marketed as "Made in USA" by Instant Brands, the manufacturer of Pyrex products. The FTC's action stems from a 2023 case where Instant Brands was charged with falsely advertising that all its glass measuring cups were made domestically, while some were actually imported from China.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a settlement with the City of Tolleson, Arizona, addressing alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act at the Tolleson Wastewater Treatment Plant. These laws are designed to ensure safe handling of hazardous chemicals. The plant uses chlorine, a regulated toxic chemical that can cause serious health effects.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England has finalized a Prospective Purchaser Agreement (PPA) for the Olin property, a 50-acre parcel at 51 Eames Street in Wilmington, Massachusetts. This site was previously used for chemical manufacturing and waste disposal, leading to significant environmental contamination and its designation as a federal Superfund site in 2006.

The Justice Department has released findings indicating that conditions in Georgia’s prisons violate the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS have announced that consumers have saved over $2 billion in upfront costs on the purchase of more than 300,000 clean vehicles since January 1, 2024. This announcement marks a significant milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to reduce transportation costs for Americans.

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the allocation of $210 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This funding represents the second tranche of additional funds secured by the Biden-Harris Administration to protect faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations from targeted attacks. The Notice of Funding Opportunity will be published later in October.

The United States and Bahrain concluded the fourth annual U.S.-Bahrain Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C., led by U.S. Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs Ambassador John Bass and Bahrain's Under Secretary for Political Affairs Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. This dialogue underscores the two nations' commitment to enhancing security, fostering economic growth, strengthening cultural ties, and upholding fundamental rights.